Hillary Clinton hits Barack Obama for not mandating the purchase
of health insurance by all Americans.
** NOTE: At the end of the week, NWN goes on a reduced holiday publishing schedule. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some columns and updates and videos; just not nearly so many. The Forum will of course be open. The relative break is coming sooner rather than later because of the frankly insane presidential campaign schedule, which sees Iowa and New Hampshire within a week of New Year’s Day. For some perspective, when I did first-in-the-nation Iowa for Gary Hart, it was on February 20th. Two days after Christmas, NWN throttles back up full bore through the February 5th presidential primaries in California and elsewhere.
** ROMNEY STABILIZES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. After some turbulence last week, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has seemingly stabilized his lead in the next door New Hampshire Republican presidential primary in a new poll. He is, however, threatened everywhere else by Mike Huckabee. John McCain’s running well back in second, with Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee bunched right behind. Fred Thompson has melted away to 2%.
CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE: Democratic legislative leaders Fabian Nunez and Don Perata emerged late this afternoon from a meeting with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Assembly has a vote scheduled on a universal health care bill for 1 PM on Monday. Schwarzenegger and Nunez will tour a hospital and do an event tomorrow in Southern California, discussing the plan.
** PERATA’S MONKEY WRENCH ON HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL, AND WASPISH TAKE ON WATER BOND MEASURE. California Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata put out this statement late this afternoon on the universal health care reform talks, principally between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, which have reportedly gotten closer to fruition: I am encouraged by the progress the Governor, the Assembly Speaker and I have made this year developing a plan for extending health care insurance to the many Californians who do not have it.”
While I still strongly favor the concept, I have been shocked by the recent revelation that next year’s budget is facing a $14 billion deficit and what that could mean. It would be imprudent and impolitic to support an expansion of health care coverage without knowing how we’re going to pay for vital health programs the state now provides for poor children, their families and the aged, blind and disabled. The real issue now is the deficit and how this squares with everything else that we are going to do.
Earlier in the day, Perata, who has his own possible water bonds initiative, appeared with some environmentalists to slam another proposed initiative similar to Schwarzenegger’s water plan as the “Pave the River” initiative.
** AN UNEVENTFUL DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. The Democratic field, minus Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, held their last debate today in Des Moines prior to the first-in-the-nation Iowa presidential caucuses on January 3rd. Like yesterday’s Republican debate — a mostly dull and poorly conducted debate also moderated by Des Moines Register editor Carolyn Washburn — it was essentially uneventful.
Barack Obama, who leads in most of the recent Iowa polls, turned in an assured, polished performance. He also had the line of the debate. Asked by editor Washburn how he can bring change in foreign policy when some of his top advisors in the field are former Clinton Administration officials — which prompted a loud and sustained laugh from Hillary Clinton, who said: “I want to hear the answer to that!” — Obama allowed as how he has advisors with a number of backgrounds. And then the zinger: “I’ll be happy to have you advising me, too, Hillary.” Which got the big laugh from the audience, though not from the New York senator.
Clinton also did well, though she appeared tired and a little nervous underneath the surface. She had a good, clearly rehearsed line, when she sought to seize the change mantle and differentiate herself from Obama and John Edwards without playing into her negative image. While everyone wants change, Hillary said, some “demand change,” that would be Edwards, some “hope for change,” that would be Obama, while she is “working hard for change.”
It’s a variant for a much more complex situation of a classic Bill Clinton trope. That no matter what happens, with all the criticism, he’s really working hard for what you need.
Unfortunately, it’s a persona that Edwards is better at projecting. He was interesting to watch.
Edwards’ ensemble, in contrast to most occasions I recall, was subtly off in every respect. His jacket, tie, and shirt were all subtly out of synch with one another. I think he was going for a down home, Midwesterner effect. He seemed tired; in one of his early extended riffs he was blinking so rapidly as to be distracting, and unaccustomedly blew his punch line such that he shrugged his shoulders and Chris Dodd sympathetically quipped: “And whatever.”
But Edwards got stronger as the debate went on and had a very good line when he rejected the premise of the moderator’s question about bringing change to Washington. The moderator had said that by alienating big oil companies, pharmaceuticals, and so forth that he was hurting his ability to work with people who get things done. Edwards’ reply was that such companies actually have no intention of giving up their power.
Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd all had their moments, as well. But Iowa is really a two-person, possibly three-person race. With Obama turning in a solid performance and having the best off-the-cuff line, the debate ended with a slight but real advantage to the Illinois senator.
** CLINTON NATIONAL CO-CHAIR RESIGNS IN WAKE OF COCAINE ATTACK ON OBAMA. Billy Shaheen, a New Hampshire political fixture who served as both state co-chair and a national co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, resigned today in the wake of his drive-by on Barack Obama yesterday with regard to his teenage drug use. Shaheen is the husband of former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen and a constant companion of Clinton’s when she campaigns in the Granite State.
The former first lady apologized to Obama at the airport today on the way to the Iowa debate from Washington.
** DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SHOWDOWN TODAY. Each of the three top Democratic candidates has a big challenge in today’s debate, the last in Iowa before the first-in-the-nation Iowa presidential caucuses on the insane date of January 3rd. Hillary Clinton, the “inevitable” frontrunner now in trouble in each of the early contests, has the biggest challenge.
The Democratic field meets today at 11 AM Pacific time, in a 90-minute event in a very chilly Des Moines viewable on the major cable nets.
The former first lady-turned-New York senator has to demonstrate that she is the most experienced candidate, the one best able to deliver real change, and take down the likable Barack Obama without appearing to be what polls show many Americans believe she is, i.e., an unpleasant person. That’s all.
Her campaign is in trouble. Her subtext of inevitability, never real, is belatedly being jettisoned by even the most credulous reporters. Her theme of having the experience to make change work is under serious question. Her attacks on rival Obama aren’t very effective.
She tried for a long time to discredit Obama as a naif for wanting to talk with Iran. But the US National Intelligence Estimate, discounting years of saber rattling rhetoric in its assessment of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, makes Obama look prescient and Hillary behind the curve. A series of scatter shot attacks on other fronts haven’t worked.
Then she decided to roll out a new advertising theme. Chart a new beginning with a theme of “New Beginnings.” In this ad, full of sunny vistas filled with appropriate Americans, all of it scored with cinematically uplifting music, Clinton calls for new beginnings on health care, education, and Iraq, running past themes and slogans through a media blender. It’s hard to see this doing much for her, although it may make her supporters feel better about the campaign.
Bill Clinton, according to several sources upset and frustrated about the situation — since he can’t step on stage and right it by himself, being term limited — went to Iowa this week yet again to boost her numbers, but was largely sidelined by the great ice storm.
With Hillary in big trouble now in all the early primary and caucus states, her chief strategist, Mark Penn, has issued another of his famous memos about how well she is doing. Penn is the principal author of the inevitable Hillary theme, which I’ve always pointed out ain’t necessarily so. Meanwhile, poll after poll shows the peril for Clinton’s candidacy.
The latest poll for CNN/WMUR-TV has Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama now essentially tied for first in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary. The numbers are Clinton 31%, Obama 30%, John Edwards 16%, and Bill Richardson 7%. A couple of months ago, Clinton led Obama by about 20 points. New Hampshire has always been Hillary’s firewall against a possible loss in Iowa, the place where she would convincingly re-establish in inevitability. Some firewall. I know from experience what an insurgent’s strong showing in Iowa can do to an inevitable frontrunner in New Hampshire.
So here’s the latest move. A veteran political operative who is Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire co-chairman, Billy Shaheen, hit Obama yesterday on his youthful drug use. His excuse is that Republicans would use it against the Illinois senator, who is close to upsetting Hillary’s apple cart in the early states, and thus he would be less electable than he otherwise seems to be. Shaheen is the husband of former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, one of Clinton’s national co-chairs. Obama’s drug use as a teenager is known because he wrote about it in his best-selling autobiography, presenting his own experience as an example of what young people should avoid.
It all makes for an inauspicious frame for an important debate performance.
Barack Obama has improved as a debater since his subpar Las
Vegas performance last spring, seen in this NWN video. But is
he good enough now to hold his new lead in Iowa?
The cancellation of Monday’s Los Angeles debate was very good news for Barack Obama. It allowed his splashy tour of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina with Oprah Winfrey, and his surge in early state polls that was already underway, to dominate. Had he had to debate in LA on Monday, the Oprah tour might have been scheduled another time. Had he had to debate in LA, he might not have done so well.
Obama is an extremely talented politician. And a very smart guy who was, after all, head of the Harvard Law Review. But for all his rhetorical gifts, he hasn’t shone yet in a debate. He started off well last month in Las Vegas, but moderator Wolf Blitzer pulled the plug on that debate’s rollicking start just 15 minutes in. The rest of the way, Obama was fairly listless.
My suspicion is that Obama, who likes to find commonalities, isn’t comfortable debating what in the big picture are the fine points of policy differences with people he mostly agrees with. At least, that had better be the case for Democrats if he goes on to win the Democratic presidential nomination.
He doesn’t need to win this debate, as he has the momentum. He does, however, need a consistently good performance for the entire debate.
Obama needs to sound like a plausible president, be change-oriented enough so as not to allow John Edwards an opening, have a high energy level throughout, which has frequently not been the case, and smoothly counter whatever Clinton throws at him.
John Edwards continues to offer an alternative to the
two Democratic frontrunners.
John Edwards has the fundamental problem of the third wheel. He’s still a major factor in the campaign, but aside from Iowa, he isn’t really very competitive anywhere else. He has actually been the best debater in most of these events. And for all that, he continues to run a mostly distant third. His misfortune is that he is running in the same cycle as two superstars. If this were 2004 all over again, he’d be the clear frontrunner.
Edwards needs to make a big impression today. He needs to discredit Clinton’s claim of experience and commitment to change and he needs to show that he, not Obama, is the best candidate to take on whichever Republican emerges from that party’s big scrum. Failing that, he has to hope that Clinton and Obama slip up and savage one another, either today or in the next few weeks. And that his strong Iowa organization delivers for him on what could be an unpredictable day, given the oddity of having these caucuses right after the New Year.
** CALIFORNIA POLL: SCHWARZENEGGER JOB APPROVAL RATING HIGH, WORRIES ABOUT ECONOMY AND WIDESPREAD DISAPPROVAL OF BUSH AND IRAQ WAR, MOSTLY MEANINGLESS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY NUMBERS. Public Policy Institute of California chief Mark Baldassare has put out the latest PPIC poll. It was taken in late November and early December, making the numbers meaningless for the presidential primary, which show the customary frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani leading.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a 63% job approval rating among California voters, who nonetheless by a narrow majority think the state is going in the wrong direction. This is because of anxiety about the slowing economy, notably the housing slump, subprime mortgage crisis, and high oil prices.
Support for the term limits revision initiative is below 50%, as is the case with the Republican scheme to change the Electoral College vote for president to get 20 more for their candidate. Which has once again collapsed anyway.
President Bush has a horrible 29% job approval rating, a strong majority thinks the Iraq War wasn’t worth it, and I’ve typed this stuff quite a few times before, haven’t I?
** SCHWARZENEGGER PRIVATE CAPITOL MEETINGS TODAY, ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS TO CAUCUS ON HEALTH CARE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will again engage in a series of private meetings and conversations today in California’s Capitol on the state’s chronic budget crisis and unresolved water policy and health care reform matters. He and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez have been negotiating right along on health care, and again are said to be close to a deal. Not that we haven’t heard that, oh, once or twice before. But this time the state Assembly Democrats are gathering to discuss the issue. And hope, as they say, springs eternal.
** IRAN TALKS IN MOSCOW, MISSILE DEFENSE TALKS IN BUDAPEST. Iran’s foreign minister is in Moscow today to enlist continued Russian security backing as it dances the minuet with Washington and to secure completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has been meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and other top officials. They’ve reached agreement on the nuclear power plant, though details will be released later. Russia is said to have insisted that the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog the plant and wants to provide enriched nuclear fuel to Iran itself, from a facility in Siberia.
Uranium must be enriched to fuel a nuclear reactor in order to generate electricity, which is what Iran says is the purpose of its nuclear program. Iran is a major oil producer, but its oil costs more to produce than other oil powers and too much of it goes to domestic consumption. In order to produce weapons grade materials, a higher level of uranium enrichment is required.
Meanwhile, Russian and American officials have been meeting today in Budapest in an effort to settle the controversy over the proposed US missile shield in Eastern Europe. Russians see it as aimed at them, even as the US through NATO continues to encroach on its “near abroad,” the peripheral states which made up part of the old Soviet Union. The US has said that the shield is aimed at Iran. But with Iran now officially downgraded as a threat, Russia is less thrilled than ever by the plan.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the new Russia Today channel.
You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti.
While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND U.S. ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Crude oil prices are trading up in the $93 to $95 per barrel range.
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The whole game is shot through with this stuff. The latest baseball scandal …
The whole game is shot through with this stuff. The latest baseball scandal …
I know about that. I’m actually more interested in my take than in easily manipulated network focus groups. CNN showed it’s in the tank for the Clinton campaign in Las Vegas.
>AC :
CNN and Fox News focus groups both have Edwards receiving the highest marks while winning over undecideds. People thought he projected a sense of determination and conviction. They also rated Obama’s performance highly.
I have to agree with CADTS: Iowans are a different breed. They don’t buy media hype.
Dec 13, 2007 06:27 PM
Go, Black Sox!
>Sacramento Solon :
” on your other statement, didn’t you???
Bill,
You might be right on Barry…the case might not be strong enough to convict.
As for baseball, even with today’s report, it remains the best game going. Always has been and will be…at least in my eyes.
Now, you did mean to add a ”
Dec 13, 2007 06:15 PM
“CLINTON NATIONAL CO-CHAIR RESIGNS IN WAKE OF COCAINE ATTACK ON OBAMA”
Best thing Clinton has done in the last month, and that’s kind of sad.
It’s very sad on other levels.
You know, his wife, the governor, directed Gary Hart’s campaign in New Hampshire.
This is not the way we did things.
It’s very sad on other levels.
You know, his wife, the governor, directed Gary Hart’s campaign in New Hampshire.
This is not the way we did things.
All this talk of the “Wisdom” of Iowa voters and how they’re not swayed by the media reminds me that in 2004 they went for Kerry ’cause they told pollsters they saw him as the “most electable”. Yeah ight, stick to your day jobs!
Sounds like a roadshow production of “You ought to give Iowa a Try” from “The Music Man”
“But he doesn’t know the Territory!”
P.S. Debate will be on KPCC – FM at nine PM tonite for all of you in the LA Area who missed it.
Bill Bradley :
Go, Black Sox!
——
Be nice, Mr. B. I happened to know that Santa is a ball fan and I would hate to see you get a lump of something in your stocking. Yes, I would!
Larry,
Been meaning to ask you about the book. Thanks for the info. I hope to get to it early next year. I’ve fallen far behind in my reading and am about to begin a two-week party, so not sure how much reading will get done. If any brain cells remain, get back with it soon!
I agree about Bud. Also think that the players union shares part of the blame. Shame they didn’t care enough about the game to cooperate with Mitchell.
The report shows once and for all that steroids were not used by a few isolated individuals. The entire era was juiced. Bonds may be the face of the whole roids debate but the players association, the owners, and Bud Selig should share the blame. They reaped the benefits: higher ratings and better attendance. Then they ran for cover when when people finally starting asking questions.
Mrs. Clinton’s mediocrity (performance), venality (money grubbing), incompetence (Shaheen), and shortsightedness (Iran) have been in all too ample evidence this week.
Mrs. Clinton’s mediocrity (performance), venality (money grubbing), incompetence (Shaheen), and shortsightedness (Iran) have been in all too ample evidence this week.
Mrs. Clinton’s mediocrity (performance), venality (money grubbing), incompetence (Shaheen), and shortsightedness (Iran) have been in all too ample evidence this week.
Mrs. Clinton’s mediocrity (performance), venality (money grubbing), incompetence (Shaheen), and shortsightedness (Iran) have been in all too ample evidence this week.
Sorry for the double- posting.
Sorry for the double- posting.
Sorry for the double- posting.
AC…
Well stated. You will get no argument from me.
Ferd Thompson. TWO pct. in New Hampshire. What a c-l-o-w-n. lol
As I said, HRC is her own worst campaign manager and candidate — its the meltdown I knew was coming because its just how she is and how she acts in a pressure situation. She simply flails about like the chicken who just had their head cut off. Sadly, and I mean this honestly, I take no public pleasure in it b/c I have alot of great and dear friends working for her.
Unfortunately, I fear that their enthusiasm and excitement for HRC is going to be wasted — like their talent has been on this campaign. Ya know, its funny, because I talked to a friend of mine in New Hampshire about three weeks ago who works for the campaign and he said the NH operation was like watching a blbird dog trying to find a car wreck in the instance before it happens — you know its coming, you shout a warning but ultimately, the accident just happens and you can do nothing but sit and watch.
Although he said, this time he is in one of the cars….
I have NO idea where “a blbird dog trying to find”…came from. What I meant to say is the “NH operation was like watching a car wreck in the INSTANT …”
Wow, 12:30am, got a 7am meeting and still blogging on NWN.
Lord love a mallard, I need a hobby or sleep…
And with that, I bid you all…Goood night.
I have NO idea where “a blbird dog trying to find”…came from. What I meant to say is the “NH operation was like watching a car wreck in the INSTANT …”
Wow, 12:30am, got a 7am meeting and still blogging on NWN.
Lord love a mallard, I need a hobby or sleep…
And with that, I bid you all…Goood night.
You are not sure who next President of USA will be.
Video today? On your brake?
There are videos coming today.
I have a 40% idea of who the next president will be.
>sergei :
You are not sure who next President of USA will be.
Dec 14, 2007 05:28 AM
I have a 40% idea of who the next president will be.
>sergei :
You are not sure who next President of USA will be.
Dec 14, 2007 05:28 AM
It’s melting … but might be recovered.
>CADTS :
As I said, HRC is her own worst campaign manager and candidate — its the meltdown I knew was coming because its just how she is and how she acts in a pressure situation. She simply flails about like the chicken who just had their head cut off. Sadly, and I mean this honestly, I take no public pleasure in it b/c I have alot of great and dear friends working for her.
Unfortunately, I fear that their enthusiasm and excitement for HRC is going to be wasted — like their talent has been on this campaign. Ya know, its funny, because I talked to a friend of mine in New Hampshire about three weeks ago who works for the campaign and he said the NH operation was like watching a blbird dog trying to find a car wreck in the instance before it happens — you know its coming, you shout a warning but ultimately, the accident just happens and you can do nothing but sit and watch.
Although he said, this time he is in one of the cars….
Dec 14, 2007 12:22 AM
Harsh, but not entirely inaccurate.
>Jonathan Hemlock :
Mrs. Clinton’s mediocrity (performance), venality (money grubbing), incompetence (Shaheen), and shortsightedness (Iran) have been in all too ample evidence this week.
Dec 13, 2007 08:14 PM
Barry Bonds saw McGwire, Sosa, and many others getting a competitive edge, and he responded.
With his superior skill set, he dominated.
>AC :
The report shows once and for all that steroids were not used by a few isolated individuals. The entire era was juiced. Bonds may be the face of the whole roids debate but the players association, the owners, and Bud Selig should share the blame. They reaped the benefits: higher ratings and better attendance. Then they ran for cover when when people finally starting asking questions.
Dec 13, 2007 08:10 PM
Santa is a football fan.
Not that there are steroids in football …
>Sacramento Solon :
Bill Bradley :
Go, Black Sox!
——
Be nice, Mr. B. I happened to know that Santa is a ball fan and I would hate to see you get a lump of something in your stocking. Yes, I would!
Dec 13, 2007 07:49 PM
Santa is a football fan.
Not that there are steroids in football …
>Sacramento Solon :
Bill Bradley :
Go, Black Sox!
——
Be nice, Mr. B. I happened to know that Santa is a ball fan and I would hate to see you get a lump of something in your stocking. Yes, I would!
Dec 13, 2007 07:49 PM
You know, I’ve done Iowa very successfully. I don’t like Iowa. I think it’s ridiculous Iowa has this role in, essentially, global politics.
Iowa is a myth. The caucuses are essentially a low turn-out primary.
>richard locicero :
All this talk of the “Wisdom” of Iowa voters and how they’re not swayed by the media reminds me that in 2004 they went for Kerry ’cause they told pollsters they saw him as the “most electable”. Yeah ight, stick to your day jobs!
Sounds like a roadshow production of “You ought to give Iowa a Try” from “The Music Man”
“But he doesn’t know the Territory!”
P.S. Debate will be on KPCC – FM at nine PM tonite for all of you in the LA Area who missed it.
Dec 13, 2007 07:25 PM
Here’s an interesting video for today’s threads:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXPnMflGkvI
Obama has already raised contributions from about 5,000 people in an ask citing Clinton’s negativity.
Now he releases this video, furthering the jujitsu.
Clinton is cratering with her sleaze.
Folks,
Not that this has anything to do with anything…but it’s currently 28 degrees in Sacramento. That’s flipping chilly!!!! Too flipping chilly!!!!
Bill, glad to see that you’re cutting back for the holidays.
Folks,
Not that this has anything to do with anything…but it’s currently 28 degrees in Sacramento. That’s flipping chilly!!!! Too flipping chilly!!!!
Bill, glad to see that you’re cutting back for the holidays.
Take a break, it’s dead.
Incidentally, NWN passed 46,000 comments sometime in the past week.